Guyana to bring eye surgeries to remote regions
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The National Ophthalmology Hospital in Port Maurant, Guyana, plans to perform eye surgeries directly in remote Hinterland regions starting in October.
For years, patients needing surgery travelled to the hospital in Port Maurant for treatment after initial screenings in their communities. Dr Saif Alli, the hospital’s doctor in charge, explained the hospital will now send medical teams to Regions Eight and Nine, and then expand to other Hinterland areas, eliminating the need for patients to travel to Berbice.
The hospital recently eliminated a significant backlog of surgeries. Previously, the hospital had stopped performing eye surgeries, leading to a large number of patients needing cataract and other procedures. Now, the hospital offers same-day surgery for many conditions and can perform complete eye examinations using new technologies like OCT scans, which detect issues at the back of the eye. The hospital currently treats around 90 patients daily, offering services like laser treatment and intravitreal injections.
Doctors are seeing a rise in cases of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, highlighting the importance of annual eye exams, particularly for people over 40, to prevent blindness from these conditions. This initiative is part of a larger government effort to improve healthcare access for all citizens of Guyana.
